SCF's First LEED Certified Building Earns Gold

(Bradenton, Fla., March 3, 2011) — State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) has achieved Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for its first green certified building,
the new Medical Technology and Simulation Center (MTSC) that opened in August 2010
at SCF Lakewood Ranch.

“This is a remarkable accomplishment for any organization, but it is particularly
impressive for an institution’s first effort. It demonstrates a deep understanding
of and appreciation for the inherent value of sustainability leadership by State College
of Florida,” said U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Gulfcoast President Michael
Carlson.

“SCF’s foresight in the design of the MTSC positions the college to meet the needs
in two areas important to the community: sustainability and wellness. While the LEED
Gold certification represents a tangible symbol of our commitment to the environment,
sustainability and health and wellness initiatives are fundamental to our college’s
culture,” said SCF President Dr. Lars A. Hafner.

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is a third-party certification
program and nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation
of high-performance green buildings.

Building certification levels are ranked in four categories—Certified, Silver, Gold
and Platinum—and are achieved through a point measurement system of five green benchmarks
areas including Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials
& Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality. Additional points are possible through
an Innovative Design evaluation category.

SCF sought and earned 40 uncontested points from the USGBC, achieving LEED Gold certification
for the MTSC’s exceptional energy, lighting, water and material use and for incorporating
a variety of other sustainable strategies.

A significant green feature of the MTSC is the 1,600-square-foot chiller plant that
uses a Thermal Energy Storage system to provide air conditioning for the campus during
peak times. The chiller plant is designed to help SCF reduce annual energy costs by
nearly 30 percent. A water condensate recovery system captures water from the air-handler’s
coils and recycles it back into the air-conditioning system to replace 10 to 20 percent
of the lost condensation needed to operate the cooling tower. Waste water generated
by the chiller plant also is reused for irrigation purposes as a water conservation
measure.

The MTSC’s energy systems perform double duties. In addition to cooling all the buildings
on campus, the chiller plant will be a hands-on learning lab to provide a simulated
work experience for students in SCF’s future Energy Technology Management baccalaureate
program.